We awoke early at the Petra Nabaeatan Castle Hotel and took a 10 minute bus ride to the ticket gate at Petra. One could see how Petra escaped the eyes of the world for so long. On our walk down to the mouth in the gorge, I looked this way and that, trying to find where the sig began. It is well hidden. Horses were plentiful to ride down the hill, their smell followed. As we entered the gorge, 300 meters long, we were engulfed with the high vein-like walls that twisted and turned, making a puzzle down the ravine. Along the way, we saw the water system the nomadic Nabaeatans made to bring water into their town. As we walked down the sig, we had to listen for the sound of hooves as donkey carts carried some people (for a fee) down to the Treasury entrance. Our first glimpse was just as Indian Jones saw it. A large rose red façade of a grand tomb was right in front of us. Most of what we saw were tombs, sacrificial tables (no humans, just fruit and animals), a theatre that seats 7000 carved out of the stone wall, and temples. There was an additional walk to the monastery, but we felt we just couldn’t make it.
It was a long hike of what is said to be a 5 mile walk down and back up. It was not for the faint of heart or body. When we finally reached to exit, we were exhausted by happy that we made it in and out again. Crystal and I decided we were “real women” to make the trip with no assistance of horse, carriage or camel!!
The late afternoon and evening was spent in Wadi Rum, a desert in southwest Jordan. A national park, the Bedouins live in the area. Six people each road in old Toyota trucks converted with benches and a rug awning overhead, we road through the desert marveling at the wonders of red-faced mountains. I was amazed at the different colors of the sand: regular Atlantic coast beach tan, an orange-ish color and a red, which I have named Wadi Rum red. It might make a good OPI nail color (“The Desert Collection”). You’ll have to see my tennis shoes that now seem to be permanently tinted that color. I don't mind the color as it will keep the memory of that wonderful day... the shoes probably won't make it back to Wilson.... though I do have pictures.
After our ride through the desert, much like four wheeling at home, we came to some Bedouin tents where the group of 100 or so were treated to a special dinner of meats, salads, beans and bread. Our meats were cooked in the sand…… inside pots covered with cloth topped by hot coals. The most spectular part of the evening was seeing the almost full moon appear over the top on the mountain. We have unbelievable memories of these days.
No comments:
Post a Comment